Carpet-fastener



MARSHALL GRANNISS, OF \VATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

CARPET-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,566, dated April 12, 1859.

To all whom it man; concern:

The operation is as follows. A number of Be it known that I, MARSHALL GRANNlss, these fasteners are attached to the fiooring of lVaterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Carpetlfastener; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a` part of this specification, in which- Figure l, represents a longitudinal vertical section of a part of a room with a carpet attached to the fioor with my improved fastener. Fig. 2, is a plan or top view of my fastener. Fig. 3, is a plan or top view of the plate to which my fastener' is hinged and which serves to retain the same in the horizontal position. Fig. et is a transverse vertical section of this plate, the line w, Fig. 3, indicating the plane of section. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 represent a modification of the fastener represented in the foregoing figures, Fig'. 6, being a top or plan view of the modification, Fig. 7, a plan or top view of the plate, similar to Fig. 4, and Fig. 8, a transverse vertical section of this plate, the line 1, w1, Fig. 7, indicating the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference indicate cor responding parts in the several figures.

To enab-le others skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my imprmfement, I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents a piece of sheet metal which is provided with prongs a, and to which a steel wire rod 7), is rigidly attached, as clearly represented in Fig. The same thing can however be made with equal advantage out of a piece of metal wire A1, bent into shape, as represented in Fig. (i, so that the same has two arms b1, 1, and also two prongs (al, al. This forked piece of sheet metal A, or of metal wire A1. is jointed to a plate B, by means of a hinge c, and this plate is provided with ears (Z, CZ, which project up and a little beyond the front edge of the plate B, so that the same catch over the wire rod Z), as represented in Figs. 1, and 2, or over the arms b1, b1, of the metal wire A1, just behind the prongs al, al, as represented in Figs. 1, and (3. This plate is further provided with holes c, e, for tacks or screws to pass through so that the same can be readily fastened to the flooring.

at such distances as is desirable to give the carpet sufficient hold and close up to the wall, and the carpet is hooked over the prongs a, a, or al, al, by turning the forked pieces A, or A1, up to a vertical position, as represented in Fig. l, in red outline. By turning the forked pieces down to a horizontal position, the carpet is stretched, and the prongs take a firm hold in the same, and if the wire rods b, or the arms b1, b1, of the forked pieces of metal wire Al are far enough depressed, so that the ears d, d, catch over the same, the strain of the carpet acts to retain the forked piece of sheet metal, or of metal wire, more firmly in a horizontal position, as by this strain the wire rod or the arms of the forked piece of the metal wire A1, are pressed back under the ears (Z, el. At the same time it is quite easy to take up the carpet, as by lifting the same up in a vertical direction, the wire rod b or the arms of the forked piece of metal wire A1 are easily released from the ears CZ, and after the forked piece has been turned up into a vertical position the carpet is easily pulled off the prongs.

The ears (d, d) serve an important function. They act as braces to the prongs (a, al), and when the carpet is laid down the stretch of its fibers produces such a strain upon the prongs that the plate or wire pertaining to the latter is pull-ed back against the ears (cl, d) which prevent any breaking or twisting out of place. The ears are so made that they support the prongs both in a direct backward direction and also when the strain is lateral. In consequence of this backward pressure against the ears (d, (l), the stronger the strain upon the prongs, the more fully will they be fastened down.

Having described my invention, I claim,

As an improved article of manufacture, a carpet-faste1ier, composed of a plate B, provided with ears (CZ, el) and a fork or plate A, A1, having prongs (a, a.) as herein shown and described.

MARSHALL GRANNISS.

Witnesses:

ELDRIDGE G. SNOW, JOHN W. PAUL. 

